How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:2
The psalmist describes his life in relationship to the Word of God and in relation to God. Both are essential.
It is interesting that the psalmist understands the idea of being blessed in direct relationship to his response to God’s Word and his passion for God. We live in a culture that often associates God’s blessing with health, prosperity, family, etc.
To observe God’s testimonies is literally to know what they are and live accordingly. The Bible warns often about those who have come to know the truth and yet do not live the truth. Far too many professing Christians will be able to give the theological answers at the day of judgment, but their lives did not reflect what they knew to be true.
Spurgeon says “Blessedness is ascribed to those who treasure up the testimonies of the Lord: in which is implied that they search the Scriptures, that they come to an understanding of them, that they love them, and then that they continue in the practice of them.”[mfn] Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 141). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.[/mfn]
To seek God is literally to investigate, to intentionally strive to gain knowledge of Him, with a desire to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
Again, far too many people who profess Christ are seeking God for what they might gain. Their lives are not about pleasing Him. In fact, if He disappoints them, they will be quite unhappy. This is not the case with the psalmist. His delight is in the fact that He can have a precious relationship with the Living God!
To seek God with all one’s heart is to be totally consumed with pursuing God. It involves our thoughts, will, emotions – everything! The psalmist is not trying to make a bit of room for God in his life. His life is actually all about God.
Fellow believer, don’t ever forget that you would never have sought God on your own (Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:10-12; Psalm 53:1-3). If you have come to know Christ as your Lord and Savior, it is because of the kindness of God (Romans 2:4). Now you have the incredible privilege of observing His testimonies and seeking Him with all your heart. There is no greater delight!
“The chiefest good should be sought after with the chiefest care, and chiefest love, and chiefest delight; nothing should be so precious to us as God. It is the greatest baseness that can be, that anything should take up our time, our thoughts, and content us more than God.” Thomas Manton